Use Of The A And An Questions Medium
When deciding whether to use "a" or "an" before words starting with a silent "r," it is important to consider the sound that follows the article. The general rule is to use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound, and "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound.
In the case of words starting with a silent "r," the sound that follows the article determines whether to use "a" or "an." If the word following the article begins with a vowel sound, then "an" should be used. However, if the word following the article begins with a consonant sound, then "a" should be used.
For example, we say "an hour" because the word "hour" is pronounced with a silent "h," and the following sound is a vowel sound (/aʊər/). On the other hand, we say "a rabbit" because the word "rabbit" is pronounced with a consonant sound (/ræbɪt/).
Therefore, when encountering words starting with a silent "r," it is crucial to focus on the sound that follows the article to determine whether to use "a" or "an."